article · Journal of King Saud University - Science
Dietary-induced obesity poses substantial health challenges globally. An investigation into the anti-obesity effects of an ethanolic extract from Moringa oleifera leaves was conducted in male Wistar rats fed a high-fat diet over fourteen weeks. Chemical analysis confirmed the presence of numerous bioactive phytochemicals, including phenolic acids and flavonoids such as rutin, catechin, and chlorogenic acid. In rats fed a high-fat diet, the extract was administered either concurrently or after obesity was established. In both regimens, the extract significantly reversed increases in body weight, visceral fat, blood sugar, insulin, leptin, and harmful lipid profiles. It also reduced oxidative stress, suppressed hepatic inflammatory markers, and restored normal liver architecture and antioxidant enzyme activity. The extract mitigated diet-induced obesity and associated metabolic disturbances through combined antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obesity mechanisms.
Obesity and its associated metabolic disorders, such as diabetes, fatty liver changes, and chronic inflammation, are critical global health burdens. Demonstrating that a plant extract can mitigate weight gain, balance lipid and glucose markers, and protect liver tissue in animal models highlights potential natural avenues for managing metabolic disease alongside or after poor dietary habits.
This study represents early-stage preclinical research demonstrating the bioactivity of Moringa oleifera extracts in animal models. The findings could potentially inform future development of therapeutic formulations or functional nutraceutical supplements targeting obesity, metabolic syndrome, and related hepatic disorders. However, significant further research, including clinical safety and efficacy trials in humans, is required before any commercial health applications can be realised.
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Obesity is one of the major health problems worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate anti-obesity potential of Moringa oleifera leaves ethanolic extract (MOE) in rats. Fifty male Wistar rats of 100–120 g body weight (BW) were randomly allocated to 5 groups (n = 10) as follows: Control (Cont group) was fed basal diet. Group II (M-group) was fed basal diet and orally given MOE (300 mg/kg BW) for 14 weeks. Group III (HFD-group) was fed a high fat diet (HFD) for 14 weeks. Group IV (HFD + M-group) was fed HFD and given MOE as in group II. Group V (HFD then M-group) was fed HFD for 8 weeks then basal diet and received MOE as group II for another 6 weeks. Phytochemical analysis of MOE revealed the presence of ferulic acid, kaempferol, cinnamic acid, ellagic acid, naringenin, rutin, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, methyl gallate gallic acid, catechin, vanillin, caffeic acid, coumaric acid, syringic acid, and pyrocatechol. Feeding HFD significantly elevated the serum level of total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, low density lipoprotein, glucose, insulin, leptin, malondialdehyde; elevated hepatic expression of nuclear factor-kappa β (NFκβ) and induced various histopathological changes in liver. Moreover, it lowered serum levels of high-density lipoprotein, adiponectin, serum superoxide dismutase activity and catalase activity compared to control group. Interestingly, administration of MOE to HFD-fed animals either concurrently (HFD + M group), or after induction of obesity (HFD then M group), significantly reversed the HFD-induced increase in BW and visceral fat mass, hyperglycemia, hyperleptinemia, hyperinsulinemia, hypoadiponectinemia, dyslipidemia; increased lipid peroxidation, hepatic NFκβ protein expression; restored normal hepatic tissue architecture and antioxidant activity. In conclusion, MOE ameliorated HFD-induced obesity, adiposity, serum biochemical and hepatic histopathological alterations. MOE accomplished these effects mostly through the anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant activities of its various bioactive identified compounds.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.jksus.2021.101552
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